Bundesliga: Bayer Leverkusen vs Bayern Munich Live
Preview
An exciting match at the top of the Bundesliga is set to happen at the BayArena on Saturday evening as the undefeated leaders Bayer Leverkusen face off against the reigning champions Bayern Munich. This is the first time in Bundesliga history that two teams have amassed 50 points after 20 matches, with Leverkusen leading with 52 points, just two points ahead of Bayern in second place.
Bayer Leverkusen has achieved a remarkable feat in German football history by going on a 30-game unbeaten run across all competitions, making them only the second team to do so. They secured their place in the DFB-Pokal semi-finals by defeating Stuttgart 3-2, despite facing the threat of defeat twice during the match. The team fought back with a 66th-minute equalizer from Amine Adli and a dramatic 90th-minute winner from Jonathan Tah.
This victory marks their third stoppage-time goal since the start of the year. Only Bayern Munich has enjoyed a longer unbeaten run in German football history with 32 games. Bayer Leverkusen has significantly improved their performance compared to last season, accumulating 25 more points in the Bundesliga and conceding a league-low 14 goals. They have dropped points in only four of their 20 league fixtures this season, with one of those draws coming against Bayern Munich.
Bayern Munich’s quest for a 12th consecutive Bundesliga title has been challenged by a strong Leverkusen team this season. However, Thomas Tuchel’s team has still had an impressive campaign, currently sitting in second place with the most points (50) after 20 matches. They have collected seven points more than at the same stage of their 2022-23 title-winning season, and have also accumulated the most points at home (28) and scored the most goals (59) in the league.
After a surprising 1-0 home defeat to Werder Bremen at the end of January, Bayern has won their last three Bundesliga matches against Union Berlin, Augsburg, and Borussia Monchengladbach, with a 3-1 victory over the latter last weekend. Despite falling behind to a 35th-minute goal from Nico Elvedi, teenager Aleksandar Pavlovic equalized just before half-time, and then Harry Kane and Matthijs de Ligt completed the comeback. Tuchel expressed his satisfaction with his team’s reaction against a “tough opponent.”
Head-to-head
Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich played to a 2-2 draw in their last match at Allianz Arena in September of last year. In their last three meetings, each team has recorded a win, a draw, and a loss.
Prediction
If any team in German football can halt the dominant force of Bayer Leverkusen, it’s the perennial champions Bayern Munich. They have had a week off and will be highly motivated to challenge the hosts’ title aspirations and defend their own crown. Both teams are not at full strength, but an exciting match between two offensive-minded teams is expected, possibly resulting in a draw to keep the title race competitive.
